In a development which could bring relief to former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday arrested Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Babu Sana in connection with a money-laundering probe against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi.

Sana was arrested from Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

A senior ED official confirmed the arrest to news agency IANS but refused to share further details. 

Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman is a close aide of Moin Qureshi. Qureshi was accused of laundering money. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) then headed by Alok Verma, which was investigating the case, allegedly demanded Rs 5 crore from Santosh Sana to stop their harassment by constant summons. Out of the agreed Rs 5 crore, Sana allegedly paid Rs 3 crore, and there was pressure to pay the remaining sum.  

Last year in October, Sana gave a statement accusing Alok Verma, Rakesh Ashtana and others of bribery.

His statement under section 164 led to an infighting in the CBI as Asthana accused his superior officer Alok  Verma of demanding Rs 2 crore to provide relief to Sana. The CBI is still probing the case. 

Based on Sana's statement, the committee probing the allegations, removed both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana from their posts. While Alok Verma resigned from the service, Asthana was transferred to the Bureau of Civil Aviation.

IANS inputs